Intravenous Amino Acid Therapy

In your search for help with your drug or alcohol addiction, you may have run across organisations offering rapid detox that can be just as successful as several months in a residential rehab clinic. What are they referring to? They refer to something known as intravenous amino acid therapy. It is a therapy that works very well for some people.

We will get into the details in just a minute. However, for now, the simplest way to explain this therapy is to tell you that the addict is hooked to an IV that sends a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals into the system to help speed up the addiction detox process and reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. It was developed by an American doctor who was originally looking for a more natural way of helping those with brain chemical imbalances.

If you are visiting our website because you’re currently struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, intravenous amino acid therapy might be a good option for you. It is a relatively fast and inexpensive way to detox if you are committed to becoming well and practicing permanent abstinence.

IV Amino Acid Basics

The human brain is a complex organ that essentially controls the entire body. Within the brain there are chemicals known as neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry the electrical impulses from neurons to other parts of the brain. When these chemicals get out of balance, the signals can be interrupted, causing a number of physical and/or mental disorders.

The interesting thing is that alcohol and drug abuse causes an imbalance in those neurotransmitters. The longer an addiction goes, the worse the imbalance becomes. This is why drug and alcohol addicts exhibit changes in personality along with tolerance and a number of other notable side effects.

Researchers discovered that restoring neurotransmitter balance could help with the detox process by encouraging the brain to return to normal function at a faster pace. Restoring the chemical balance in the brain can reduce cravings, reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, and make it easier for the recovering addict to refuse future temptations.

The Detox Process

Detoxing with intravenous amino acid therapy requires a separation from drugs and/or alcohol, just like traditional detox. There is no way around it. However, in most cases there are no other substitute pharmaceuticals used, as they would interfere with the amino acid therapy. However, they are not needed anyway.

At the start of the detox period, the recovering addict is connected to an IV that introduces a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals directly into the bloodstream. These substances quickly travel to the brain where they immediately begin helping to restore the balance of delicate neurotransmitters. Throughout the process, a nurse or doctor monitors the patient’s vital signs and progress through detox.

If certain actions can be taken to make the patient more comfortable, they will be taken. Should there be any medical emergencies during that time then the medical professional monitoring the recovering addict’s progress will take appropriate action. The good news is that most people can complete intravenous amino acid therapy in 5 to 7 days.

After Detox

Intravenous amino acid therapy has proved successful for some patients who are totally committed to getting well. However, detox in and of itself is usually not enough to guarantee permanent abstinence from drugs or alcohol. The therapy works best when it is combined with a supportive family and appropriate aftercare services.

Addiction Helper believes in aftercare as a means of preventing relapse. That is why the clinics we work with typically include aftercare as part of the services they offer. For those that do not, we make it our job to help clients arrange aftercare services in anticipation of the completion of detox and rehab.

The main appeal of intravenous amino acid therapy is the speed by which it can be completed. You could, in theory, take one week off work and be sober and clean when you return after detox. However, Addiction Helper encourages you not to be fooled into thinking your battle with drugs and alcohol is permanently over. We strongly urge all of our clients using this detox method to take part in aftercare.

Aftercare can include some of the following:

Support Groups – The support group is one of the best aftercare services because it provides mutual accountability and encouragement. When you are with a support group, you are with a collection of people all going through the same process. It is very helpful for fighting future temptations.

Counselling – Group or one-on-one counselling is another important aspect of aftercare. Counselling helps the individual come to terms with any mental or emotional issues attached to his or her former addiction. Without treating these issues, the chance of relapse is greater.

Medication – Usually medication is not necessary after intravenous amino acid therapy. In some cases, it might be advisable on a temporary basis to provide further motivation for not drinking. Whether or not maintenance medication is required is a decision best left to professionals.

Get Professional Help

Anyone suffering from alcohol or drug addiction needs to get professional help for detox. Addiction Helper strongly urges you never to try detox on your own. Detox is something that can have very serious consequences if it is not medically supervised. Believe it or not, people do die when attempting to go through detox alone.

Medically supervised detox is even more important when you are talking about intravenous amino acid therapy. The amino acids, vitamins, and minerals need to be combined in just the right formulation for them to be effective. What’s more, unless they are administered using an IV, they are unlikely to provide the maximum benefit they are designed for.

Addiction Helper is here to assist you in finding intravenous amino acid therapy or another detox method that’s right for you. When you call us, we will assess your situation and help you determine the best course of action. Your road to recovery begins when you contact us by phone or e-mail.

Finding useful information and resources about addiction or alcoholism can be a minefield. To increase the chance of a successful recovery and life of sobriety it is important to receive guidance from a reliable source.